,
suggests useful sketches.

Such topics as the clouds, the mountains, the plain, the valley, the
brook, the waterfall, the beach, the ocean, the cliff, and innumerable
others are easily and quickly illustrated in this manner. The teacher who
in a few moments can take advantage of this graphic language finds the
lessons a delight to himself and to the class.

Animal drawing is an extremely interesting lesson for the children, at the
same time a rather difficult one for many teachers. On Plate 14 will be
found a few drawings suggesting how few lines will indicate the general
outline and how few strokes of the side of the chalk will suggest the
surface.

There are special days, seasons, or occasions when blackboard drawings may
be used to advantage for illustration.

Thanksgiving stories are anticipated by the children, and Thanksgiving
pictures as well. These old, old scenes, ever new, appeal to us all
whether pupils or teachers. There are the settlement of New England, the
first Thanksgiving, the harvest time, the family gathering, and numerous
events which suggest illustration. In many schools there is the delightful
custom of remembering some unfortunate family. The children bring to the
school gifts of clothing, groceries, vegetables, etc., and assist the
teacher in packing these good things, and great is their joy in giving.

[Illustration: Plate 15]

Plate 15. This drawing will answer as an illustration of harvest time, or
perhaps the gift itself to be packed and sent away. Our lesson in object
drawing may be from these or similar objects. In this sketch a few
vertical strokes give the background and box, similar curving strokes the
barrel, and horizontal strokes the floor. The vegetables are drawn by
using the suggestions found in No. 9, Plate 3. The kernels of corn are
represented by the use of a very small piece of chalk and stroke No. 10,
and the husks by using No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7, Plate 2. The details are
added with the point of the chalk, and charcoal is used in the shadows.

[Illustration: Plate 16]

Christmas time of all seasons in the year is the one the children most
love, and there are innumerable stories and Christmas lessons for the
little ones. Let me give you a few verses I heard in the first grade and
the illustration used.

Christmas-day was coming, Christmas-eve drew near;
Fir-trees they were talking low, at midnight cold and clear,
And this is what the fir-tree said,